Mandarin Chinese - An ExplanatoryGuide to Key Language Issues

1. Prepositions and conjunctions
Prepositions
Prepositions occur before a noun phrase and indicate some relationship between the noun
phrase and the main verb of the sentence. Propositions always followed by an object noun
and a verb.
There are three grammatical rules connected to prepositions :
1. Unlike English, in Chinese the proposition occurs immediately before the verb.
2. The preposition is right before the noun and nothing can be put between them.
3. Adverb can occur only before the preposition.
Here are the most common Mandarin prepositions, arranged according to function:
1. Prepositions that indicate location in time or space – no movement involved
在 (zài) at, in, on
在 (zài) is optional in time expressions

2. 2. Prepositions that indicate an action performed towards a reference point – no
movement involved
对 (duì ) to, towards (a person or a location)
向 xiàng towards (a person or a location)
3. Prepositions that indicate joint performance of an action.
跟 (gēn) with (also functions as a conjunction)
4. Prepositions that indicate movement of the subject.
从 (cóng) from (movement from a location)
到 (dào) to (movement to a location that is the destination)
往 (wǎng) towards (a location)
进 (jìn) into a location
5. Prepositions that indicate transfer of something from one noun phrase to another
给 (gěi ) to, for
跟 (gēn) from
向 (xiàng) from
……

3. Conjunctions
A conjunction is used for connecting words, phrases or sentences
expressing a certain logic relationship
Here are the some of the most useful Mandarin conjunctions:
Conjunctions that indicate an ‘additive’ or ‘and’ relationship (always
between nouns)
1. 和 (hé) and
2. 跟 (gēn) also functions as proposition
3. 同 (tóng) and
4. 与 (yǔ) literally
5. 还是 (hái shi) or
6. 或者 (huò zhě) or
7. 可是 （kě shì）but (contrast conjunction)
……